Sailor Moon Z: #8 - The Princess, Sailor Moon By: Janelle Jimenez (pandora@indy.net) Official WebPage: http://www.indy.net/~pandora/sailormoon/zodiac/intro3.html "What an awful, awful day.." Mako said, looking at her friends, they had all gathered at Rei's temple after a small memorial service for Hotaru. "She'll be back.." Usagi said, trying to sound cheerful, the death of Sailor Saturn had totally changed her attitude about the Outer Senshi. "Yes, but..will she know us? Will she remember who we are?" Rei asked with a sigh. "I wonder how Haruka, Michiru, and Setsuna are taking this..they're alot closer to her than we are..and poor Souichi..losing his daughter again." Minako said and looked out to the sky. "You guys, this is all my fault." Ami said, wrapping her arms aound herself. "How could it possibly..be your fault?" Rei asked, doubting her words somewhat. "If..I had let Sailor Saturn kill Scorpio..then maybe she'd be alive still.." Ami explained, a small tear rolling down her cheek. "It was amazing though, wasn't it? After she was stabbed..she sort of faded out in a bright purple light..it was almost..beautiful." Mako said recalling that dreadful night. "Yes..beautiful.." Usagi said with a smile, she looked out into the sky, Rei and Minako nodded in agreement, but Ami stood looking shamed and guilty. "Did you notice the glares Michiru and Haruka and Setsuna where giving me?" Ami demanded, Usagi looked at her. "Ami-chan..they weren't looking at you weird..they don't blame you." Usagi said comfortingly. "Does Chibi-Usa know about this?" Ami demanded, Usagi turned away. "No..she doesn't." Rei replied, looking down at her hands. "Why didn't you tell her? Don't you think she'll notice when her best friend doesn't know who she is?!" Ami exclaimed, losing her normal mild-mannered composure. "We'll tell her.." Usagi said putting her hand on Ami's shoulder, Ami twisted away. "You..her own mother, hasn't even told her..how..how could you?" Ami demanded. Minako looked at Ami, "Ami-chan, just because you're feeling angry doesn't mean you need to take it out on us. We're your friends." Minako replied. Ami looked at her, then sighed. "Yes, your right..I think, I need to just..take a walk.." Ami said and headed down the steps of Rei's temple. Rei watched Ami walk off, slowly, as if Ami was thinking heavily. Rei sighed, "I hope she feels better.." she murmured. * * * * Tenshi looked around, ever since that dreadful day, she had been hanging around the Zodiac Senshi, since she already knew their identities there wasn't a problem being around them. The Zodiac Senshi were her first real friends, she pushed her glasses off her nose and looked at Jessica. Jessica was the most beautiful girl she had ever seen, and that was simply an observation, but her personality was so far from beautiful it seemed like a strange joke. Then there was Veronica, she was athletic and popular, the total opposite of herself. She shifted her gaze over to Janie, an amusing girl who was probably the strangest person she had ever met. Next to Janie was Joanna, who was the thinker of the crowd, but was unknowingly cruel. Then there was Alana, the peacemaker of the group, but not exactly the smartest, it seemed to Tenshi. "Tenshi..well?" Jessica said, looking annoyed, Tenshi snapped out of her daydream, this was obviously not the first Jessica called her name. "Umm..what?" Tenshi asked timidly. "Someone else tell her." Jessica said rolling her eyes and waving her hand as if she where brushing Tenshi off. Alana cleared her throat, "Jessica asked if--" "Girls, we have more important things to discuss.." Estrella said, she had in her mouth a scroll of paper which she dropped on the ground and unrolled with her paws. "While the Sailor Senshi are in mourning, I think we should get our hands on one of the talisman." Estrella said, Janie looked at her in shock, "Estrella..but..one of the DIED..can't we have a little respect for the dead?" Janie asked looking frustrated, Veronica and Alana nodded in agreement, they each had thought how they would feel if someone they knew had died in such a terrible way. "No, we have to get one of the stars while we can." Estrella ordered, "The universe rests in our hands. We can't let the Black Star Family take the stars, they already have one.." Estrella explained. Janie sighed, "But why now? I mean..can't we let them grieve..?" she asked. "No, Janie. I understand what Estrella is saying, we must get what we can while they're vulnerable." Jessica said firmly, defending the black cat, Veronica sighed. "Alright, what do we do?" she asked. * * * * Hotaru walked towards Ami, she was reborn, and looking as good as ever. Her eyes were dark, "You killed me..Ami-chan." Hotaru said icily, mocking the words 'Ami-chan.' Ami backed away, and shook her head, tears coming out of the sides, "Please..I'm so sorry Hotaru-chan..I should have let you kill Scorpio.." she cried. "Its too late to be sorry." Hotaru said, her voice so calm and cold it made Ami shiver, Hotaru magically turned to Sailor Saturn. "Its just too late.." Sailor Saturn whispered and held the cold blade of the Silence Glaive against Ami's throat. Sailor Saturn raised the Glaive..and then.. Ami woke up with a start, her body wet with sweat and her heart beating rapidly. "Just a dream.." she said and laughed almost insanely. She glanced at her clock, then let her head fall back on her pillow. Suddenly, outside her window she saw a bright flash, she jumped up and peered out her blinds. She saw an eerie purple smoke coming from a building in the financial district of town. She grabbed her computer, "Senshi..you need to henshin (transform) right now..I think we have some trouble on the financial district.." she said, and ran out of her house. Ami had transformed into Sailor Mercury along the way and by the time she got there all the other Senshi where there, except Saturn. "Well, Mercury-chan..I don't see anything.." Sailor Uranus said. Sailor Moon yawned, "Yea..where's the trouble?" she asked. Sailor Mercury pushed her earring and her blue visor came down as she scanned the area, and tapped on her computer. "There's nothing here..but..there is.." Mercury said, it was one of the first times she sounded confused. "I feel something..familiar here.." Sailor Neptune said and looked around. "Hotaru-chan..!" Sailor Pluto exclaimed and fell to her knees, "She's here..I know she is.." Sailor Pluto cried. Sailor Venus turned away, and wiped away a tear. "No..wait..something..is here." Sailor Mars said and looked around, "Whether or not its good.." she started, and pulled out a ward, "something is here.." she finished. "Thats right, something is here.." said a voice from above their heads, Sailor Mars looked up. Suddenly five blurs jumped down from the trees, and the Senshi where surrounded by the Zodiac Senshi. "Oh great, I should have guessed it was you." Sailor Uranus said with a roll of her eyes. Sailor Leo rolled her eyes in return, and cleared her throat, "We are the Senshi of the Celestial bodies in the sky, and in the name of the ruling stars, we will defeat you!" she replied. "Your openings get gaudier and gaudier.." Sailor Mars laughed. "Look, this wouldn't be so much of a problem if you just gave us what we're looking for." Sailor Taurus said politely. "Excuse me, but we're not exactly just going to hand you over our talismen and henshin sticks." Sailor Uranus said with a smirk. "Then, you're leaving us to take them by force." Sailor Leo said narrowing her eyes, she hestitated as the Sailor Senshi glanced at each other. "Sun Lion Destroy!" she shouted and a siloutte of a lion made of fire lept from her hands and bounded towards the Senshi. "Shining Aqua..Illusion!" Sailor Mercury said and sent a wave of ice towards the Lion, the lion shrank in size but continued to run towards the Senshi. The Senshi all syepped back, "Nature Entangle!" Sailor Taurus shouted, the ground rumbled softly as pink vines of energy rose up and held the Senshi where they were. Sailor Venus started to scream in terror as the lion was just a few feet away from her. Suddenly, the earth trembled violently and angrily and the Sun Lion disappeared. All eyes glanced at Sailor Capricorn, "It wasn't me.." she said as she was knocked over by the force of the ground shaking, the earth then exploded in purple light and energy as if it couldn't hold back. All the Senshi, Zodiac and Sailor fell to the ground, the energy from the light burning them, but not to the point that it would scar them. "STOP IT..STOP!!" Sailor Moon screamed, Sailor Mars struggled to take out one of her wards, in hopes perhaps she could make the energy stop. Sailor Venus continued to scream, and Sailor Mercury attempted to use her computer to see what was happening. The Zodiac Senshi where writhing in pain, all of them, when suddenly the burning energy stopped and something much softer and cooler blew over them. The Senshi stopped screaming, and Sailor Neptune gasped, before them was Sailor Saturn, but much older than she was at any time. However, she wasn't with them..she was transparent--like a ghost, and surrounded with purple light. It was reminiscent of Sailor Charon. The Zodiac Senshi too, were in shock. "Hello, Princess.." Sailor Saturn said and turned to Sailor Moon, who had her arms wrapped around herself. "Sailor Saturn.." Sailor Moon whispered. "Yes, yes..don't be so surprised.." Sailor Saturn laughed, her figure turned and look at the Zodiac Senshi, half in disgust and half in pity. "To defeat the evils you must defeat..you must be your true self, Princess Serenity.." Sailor Saturn said looking off into the sky. "My true self?" Sailor Moon repeated, she was in her super form, as was all the other Senshi. "Yes, your very true self, to be the most powerful you can be.." Sailor Saturn replied, "The Zodiac Senshi are capable of defeating the evil, but they're delusioned." she said and glanced back at them. Sailor Leo's eyes narrowed. "Delusioned? I'll show you delusioned.." she muttered and lunged towards the ghost of Saturn, before Leo could even touch the ghost, the purple energy surrounding Sailor Saturn gave Sailor Leo a jolt, much like being electrecuted. Sailor Saturn shook her head and smiled softly and ignored Sailor Leo's feeble attempt at revenge. "To become your true self, everyone must give you thier energy..but you must also use the Silver Crystal." Sailor Saturn explained, "NO! YOU MUST NOT! You'll die!!" Sailor Venus screamed, interrupting Sailor Saturn. "But its for the sake of the future, Sailor Venus.." Sailor Moon said and looked back to her friends. Slowly they all nodded their heads in agreement, Sailor Saturn took out her henshin stick. "Saturn Planet Power..." she shouted and pointed it to Sailor Moon, a beam of purple energy shot out towards the Silver Crystal. "Uranus Planet Power!" Sailor Uranus said, following Saturn's lead, a beam of golden energy flew towards the Silver Crystal. "Neptune Planet Power!" "Pluto Planet Power!" "Mercury Crystal Power!" "Mars Crystal Power!" "Jupiter Crystal Power!" "Venus Crystal Power!" the Senshi all shouted, beams of aqua, mauve, blue, red, green and orange flew towards the Silver Crystal. "Moon Crisis Power!" shouted a voice and a beam of pink energy shot towards the Silver Crystal, the Senshi turned, and looked at Sailor Chibi-Moon, who was accompanied by Tuxedo Kamen. The Senshi smiled at both of them, who had been missing for so long. "And you have..my love.." Tuxedo Kamen added, and a beam of white energy radiated from him and to Sailor Moon, the Holy Grail suddenly appeared and the Silver Crystal, filled with the positive energy of the Sailor Senshi, transformed into a beautiful crystal brooch in the shape of a moon with a small golden crown was wrapped around it, all set on a gold backing with the signs of each Senshi circling it. "Princess Serenity..Say 'Moon Princess Power'.." Sailor Saturn directed, starting to fade away. "Moon Princess Power..Make Up!" Sailor Moon shouted, her Sailor-fuku (uniform) disappeared and she was dressed in the white gown she wore as the Moon Princess. Transparent wings appeared on her back and folded over her chest, then reextended. The skirt of her gown shredded and shrunk into shorter white skirt that was tiered over a longer golden skirt. Her collar turned gold as well, and her tiara shrunk to a simple moon on her forehead. "Serenity.." Tuxedo Kamen whispered and dropped to his knees. The Senshi where all equally as shocked. Sailor Saturn started to fade out, "Princess Serenity..I'll be back, don't worry.." her voice said. All was silent, all looking at Sailor Moon, who radiated with such goodness and light, it was awe-inspiring. A hand reached over Sailor Jupiter and grabbed her henshin stick which she held in her right hand. "NO!" she shouted, her voice filled with such negetivity that shattered the sensitive bond the Silver Crystal had and the Crystal exploded in a fountain of glitter and dust. Sailor Moon, in her Princess form, collapsed and her fuku disappeared. Her eyes went blank. Sailor Jupiter rushed to Sailor Moon's side. "SAILOR MOON!" she screamed. Sailor Leo held Sailor Jupiter's henshin stick tightly in her hand. "Sun Rise.." she shouted and a golden bubble appeared and engulfed the Zodiac Senshi, wisking them away. Sailor Jupiter ignored the fact that the loss of the hernshin stick had caused her to return to her normal self. She held Sailor Moon's hand, "Usagi!!" she shouted and shook her lightly, the Senshi where all standing over Sailor Moon, calling her name, begging her to awaken, but Sailor Moon remained still and lifeless. * * * * Princess Lithia smiled, "Princess Serenity is Sailor Moon who is Usagi Tsukino.." she laughed. Sulfiria smiled, both of them looking at the Crystal Ball. "And the poor girl is half-dead.." Sulfiria squealed. "Arseniru!" Lithia shouted, immediatly before them a blaze of fire flashed and there stood a man with black hair and red eyes that had a demonic quality to them. "If and when Scorpio fails.." Lithia began, "And she will, M'Princess.." he said cutting in, smirking cruelly. "As i was saying.." she said clearing her throat and smiling at Arseniru. "When Scorpio fails, you are to go to Earth and destroy Usagi Tsukino..if she ever awakens."